Commonwealth Sports Management has announced the formation
of the International Basketball League, a men's league featuring
an MLS-like single entity structure set to being play in November
'97 in 10 North American cities. Although markets have not been
finalized, potential arenas will have a minimum capacity of
12,000 and most teams will be in large, non-NBA markets. Paul
Martha, former General Counsel to the Penguins and 49ers, will
lead a group that includes: former NHL CFO Ken Sawyer, former
IMG exec Henry Rischitelli, former ProServ exec Paul Garololo,
and Arthur Cipriani, Co-Founder and the league's major investor.
Martha said the single-entity structure "allows for revenue
sharing for all teams, therefore limiting the financial
inequalities between large and small markets." The league will
also offer its commercial affiliates exclusive, fully integrated,
league-wide sponsorship, licensing and merchandising and
advertising programs. Players must be 18 years old and will be
selected from international and domestic pro and college players
(IBL). Martha said they have identified 23 non-NBA markets with
final sites expected by August. Pittsburgh is likely to be an
initial market. Players without a college education will be
encouraged to attend classes during the offseason under a league-
funded scholarship program (AP/WASHINGTON POST, 6/18).